Limonium plant named ‘Jsada’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Limonium  plant named ‘Jsada’, characterized by its erect, long and strong flowering stems; relatively large leaves; freely flowering habit; small white-colored flowers arranged in narrow inflorescences; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Limonium sinense.

Cultivar Denomination: ‘Jsada’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Limonium plant, botanically known as Limonium sinense, commercially used as a cut flower Limonium, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Jsada’.

The new Limonium plant is a product of a planned breeding program in Madrid, Cundinamarca, Colombia. The objective of the breeding program was to create new high-yielding Limonium cultivars that flower early and are resistant to pathogens.

The new Limonium plant originated from an open-pollination in Madrid, Cundinamarca, Colombia in February, 2006 of a proprietary selection of Limonium sinense identified as code number JS401003-3, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unknown selection of Limonium sinense as the male, or seed, parent. The new Limonium plant was discovered and selected by the Inventors as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated open-pollination grown in a controlled greenhouse environment in Madrid, Cundinamarca, Colombia on Oct. 24, 2006.

Asexual reproduction of the new Limonium plant by cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Madrid, Cundinamarca, Colombia since February, 2007, has shown that the unique features of this new Limonium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Limonium have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Jsada’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Jsada’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Limonium plant:

-   -   1. Erect, long and strong flowering stems.     -   2. Relatively large leaves.     -   3. Freely flowering habit.     -   4. Small white-colored flowers arranged in narrow         inflorescences.     -   5. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Limonium can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Limonium differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Limonium produced more flowering stems than         plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Limonium and the female parent selection         differed in flower color as plants of the female parent         selection had pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Limonium can be compared to plants of Limonium sinense ‘Silver Diamond’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Madrid, Cundinamarca, Colombia, plants of the new Limonium differed primarily from plants of ‘Silver Diamond’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Limonium had straighter flowering stems         than plants of ‘Silver Diamond’.     -   2. Plants of the new Limonium had larger and flatter leaves than         plants of ‘Silver Diamond’.     -   3. Plants of the new Limonium had lighter green-colored         flowering stems than plants of ‘Silver Diamond’.     -   4. Inflorescences of plants of the new Limonium were not as open         as inflorescences of plants of ‘Silver Diamond’.     -   5. Flowers of plants of the new Limonium were positioned towards         the apex of the flowering stems whereas flowers of plants of         ‘Silver Diamond’ were positioned in the upper half of the         flowering stems.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Limonium plant, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Limonium plant.

The photograph in the center of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering stem of ‘Jsada’.

The photograph on the upper left side of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘Jsada’.

The photograph on the upper right of the sheet is a close-up view of typical inflorescences of ‘Jsada’.

The photograph on the bottom left of the sheet is a close-up view of the upper and lower surfaces of typical leaves of ‘Jsada’.

The photograph on the bottom right of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of typical flowering plants of ‘Jsada’ grown in a ground bed.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants of the new Limonium grown in ground beds in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse located in Madrid, Cundinamarca, Colombia. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 15° C. to 25° C., night temperatures ranged from 8° C. to 12° C. and light levels averaged 21.4 KWH/m² per week. Plants were pinched one time about six weeks after planting and were 18 weeks old when the description and photographs were taken. Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Limonium sinense ‘Jsada’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Limonium             sinense identified as code number JS401003-3, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Limonium             sinense, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About ten days with day temperatures             ranging from 15° C. to 25° C. and night temperatures ranging             from 8° C. to 12° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About four weeks with             day temperatures ranging from 15° C. to 25° C. and night             temperatures ranging from 8° C. to 12° C.         -   Root description.—Fleshy, medium in thickness; white in             color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Appearance.—Perennial subshrub grown as a cut flower; erect,             long and strong flowering stems; inverted narrow triangle             form; leaves basal and obovate in shape; freely flowering             habit; numerous flowers arranged in symmetrical and open             panicles; flowers positioned towards the apex of the             flowering stem; vigorous growth habit.         -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching habit, about 15 to             18 flowering stems develop per plant; pinching enhances             branching potential.         -   Plant height.—About 97 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 45 cm.         -   Flowering stems.—Length: About 87 cm. Spread, at the apex:             About 25 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Internode length: About             6 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous;             longitudinally ridged. Color: Close to 146A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—In a basal rosette, simple; sessile.         -   Length.—About 24 cm.         -   Width.—About 7.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Obovate.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Cuneate to attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, reticulate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 146A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 148B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: More green than 147A;             venation, close to N137A. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: More green than 147A; venation, close to 146A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Open and symmetrical panicles             with numerous flowers; flowers actinomorphic and symmetrical             and arranged towards the apices of the inflorescences;             freely flowering habit, about 650 flowers per flowering             stem; flowers face mostly upright and outwardly; flowers             sessile.         -   Flowering response.—In Colombia, plants flower year round;             early flowering response, plants begin flowering about 17             weeks after planting.         -   Post-production longevity.—As a cut flower, flowers last for             about 30 days; corolla not persistent, calyx persistent.         -   Fragrance.—Faint, pleasant.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 36 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 8 cm to 12 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 5 mm to 6 mm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 5 mm to 7 mm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 6 mm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.             Shape: Fusiform. Color: Close to NN155C to NN155D.         -   Corolla.—Petals per flower: About five in a single whorl,             fused. Petal length: About 8 mm. Petal lobe width: About             2 mm. Petal shape: Narrowly deltoid to ligulate. Petal apex             and margin lobe: Emarginate. Petal texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny, membraneous. Petal             color, upper and lower surfaces: Towards the base, close to             9A to 9B; mid-section and towards the base, close to NN155C             to NN155D.         -   Calyx.—Sepals per flower: About five in a single whorl,             fused. Sepal length: About 8 mm. Sepal diameter: About 3 mm.             Sepal shape: Deltoid. Sepal apex and lobe margin: Erose,             fringed. Sepal texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; papery. Sepal color, upper and lower surfaces:             Close to NN155C to NN155D; towards the base, close to 146C             to 146D.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 17 cm to 43 cm depending on             position on the flowering stem. Diameter: About 1.5 mm to             2 mm. Strength: Strong, wiry, flexible. Angle: About 45°             from stem axis. Texture: Smooth, glabrous; longitudinally             ridged. Color: Close to 146A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: About five             per flower. Filament length: About 2.5 mm. Filament color:             Close to NN155C. Anther length: Less than 1 mm. Anther             shape: Oblong. Anther color: Close to 6D. Amount of pollen:             Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 6D. Gynoecium: Pistil number:             One per flower. Pistil length: About 3 mm. Style length:             About 2.5 mm. Style color: Close to NN155D. Stigma shape:             Three-parted. Stigma color: Close to 6D. Ovary color: Close             to 144A.         -   Seeds/fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Limonium have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Limonium. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Limonium have been observed     to tolerate temperatures from about −1° C. to about 30° C. 

1. A new and distinct Limonium plant named ‘Jsada’ as illustrated and described. 